The review said that Mrs Hart told her GP a month before her death that pain from a facial condition she was suffering from had become worse due to "some marital stress".

But as she did not "indicate any domestic abuse or fear of domestic abuse", her GP had not questioned it further.

As a result, the report also recommended health professionals should question patients more about domestic abuse.

"This means it is vital for all professionals to be able to recognise the criminal cases of Coercive and Controlling and respond to them - as the victims themselves may not either see themselves as victims or be physically unable to break free," the report said.

Image caption
Luke and Ryan Hart say domestic abuse, in the form of coercive control, is not fully recognised by members of the public or authorities

Ryan Hart told the BBC: "No one knew what to look for... unfortunately it was missed by us and we lived it."

His brother Luke said: "We were living a personal hell and our father was dangerous."

"I think a lot of people felt afraid of asking us what was going on because of the fear our father cultivated, especially around our close family. They were all afraid of helping us because of that fear."

Sandra Horley, from domestic violence support charity Refuge, said police and other authorities "were having difficulty gathering evidence because they don't really understand what coercive control means - and this is across the board".

"They haven't had sufficient training to understand the complex dynamics of domestic abuse which doesn't have to involve physical abuse," she added.

A Home Office spokesperson said it would "continue to work with police and prosecutors to ensure the laws are used to maximum effect".